Since freight transport inherently involves both private and public sector organizations, a committed approach on both parts is necessary to increase energy efficiency. For example, FedEx’s “EarthSmart” Initiative encompasses various sustainability efforts, including adding more sustainable delivery vehicles, optimizing delivery routes in order to minimize driving time, and maximizing cargo space in fuel-efficient planes to reduce the number of planes in the sky. Fuel efficiency has increased from 5.4% in 2006 to 15.1% in 2010.

Since freight transport inherently involves both private and public sector organizations, a committed approach on both parts is necessary to increase energy efficiency. For example, FedEx’s “EarthSmart” Initiative encompasses various sustainability efforts, including adding more sustainable delivery vehicles, optimizing delivery routes in order to minimize driving time, and maximizing cargo space in fuel-efficient planes to reduce the number of planes in the sky. Fuel efficiency has increased from 5.4% in 2006 to 15.1% in 2010.

In addition to implementing better transport strategies, Smart Transport project also aims to reduce the cost, energy use, and carbon footprint associated with freight transportation networks. In order to do so, participating economies are expected to provide detailed information on the estimated savings for their sample projects.

Additional suggested approaches to increase energy efficiency include logistical strategies to raise the load factors of transport vehicles and intermodal strategies to shift freight from trucks to railroads, ships, and barges.